AP® Environmental Science

Pollution Case Studies: Deepwater Horizon

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On April 20, ​2010, an explosion rocked the Deepwater Horizon offshore​ oil platform owned by BP oil. This began a leak that would span four months and spill 210 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Which of the following consequences was the result of the Deepwater Horizon environmental disaster?

A

Benzene exposure led to high white blood cell counts which are precursors to leukemia.

B

Higher than normal levels of cesium-137 were detected in schools of Pacific fish.

C

Higher than normal levels of iodine-131 were linked to thyroid cancer in humans.